Latest news with #Rocher
Fashion Network
21-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Petit Bateau drops first eyewear collection for children
One hundred and thirty years after being first launched, French label Petit Bateau has introduced a new line of products for children, in addition to apparel, cosmetics and fragrances. This month, the brand founded in 1893 in Troyes, France, has dropped its maiden collection of children's eyeglasses and sunglasses. The products will be first distributed in France at specialist French opticians chain Krys, which operates over 1,000 stores. Petit Bateau has licensed its eyewear to the Seaport ODLM group, which produces among others for Nuxe and Mauboussin. The Petit Bateau eyewear collection is inspired by a marine aesthetic and is available in two lines: one for nursery school children, featuring four eyeglasses and two sunglasses models, and the second for those of primary school age (6 to 10), consisting of 10 eyeglasses models, two models of sunglasses for girls and two for boys. Petit Bateau, which is present in 55 countries through a series of e-shops and over 370 monobrand stores, is currently up for sale. Earlier this year, the Rocher group, which bought it in 1988, has indicated it intends to divest itself of the children's brand in order to focus on its beauty business, the Yves Rocher chain above all. In an interview to Ouest France, Bris Rocher, president of the Rocher group, stated that the sale might take a while and that, for the time being, the group will continue to work on the brands it intends to sell, Petit Bateau and Stanhome, in the same way as before. According to French news outlet L'Informé, the Rocher group has put the Rothschild & Co. bank in charge of finding a buyer, and several preliminary bids have reportedly already been filed.
Fashion Network
21-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Petit Bateau drops first eyewear collection for children
One hundred and thirty years after being first launched, French label Petit Bateau has introduced a new line of products for children, in addition to apparel, cosmetics and fragrances. This month, the brand founded in 1893 in Troyes, France, has dropped its maiden collection of children's eyeglasses and sunglasses. The products will be first distributed in France at specialist French opticians chain Krys, which operates over 1,000 stores. Petit Bateau has licensed its eyewear to the Seaport ODLM group, which produces among others for Nuxe and Mauboussin. The Petit Bateau eyewear collection is inspired by a marine aesthetic and is available in two lines: one for nursery school children, featuring four eyeglasses and two sunglasses models, and the second for those of primary school age (6 to 10), consisting of 10 eyeglasses models, two models of sunglasses for girls and two for boys. Petit Bateau, which is present in 55 countries through a series of e-shops and over 370 monobrand stores, is currently up for sale. Earlier this year, the Rocher group, which bought it in 1988, has indicated it intends to divest itself of the children's brand in order to focus on its beauty business, the Yves Rocher chain above all. In an interview to Ouest France, Bris Rocher, president of the Rocher group, stated that the sale might take a while and that, for the time being, the group will continue to work on the brands it intends to sell, Petit Bateau and Stanhome, in the same way as before. According to French news outlet L'Informé, the Rocher group has put the Rothschild & Co. bank in charge of finding a buyer, and several preliminary bids have reportedly already been filed. news_translation_auto Click here to read the original article.
Business Wire
15-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Gecina - Capital Allocation: Strategic Office Acquisition in Paris' Central Business District
Gecina (Paris:GFC): | Key takeaways Preliminary agreement signed to acquire a 32,200 sq.m flagship office complex in the heart of Paris' Central Business District. This property, recently fully restructured, features excellent CSR credentials and rare, expansive floorplates. The total investment represents €435 million (including duties, c. €13,300 per sq.m) Prime location, just steps away from Saint-Lazare Station, one of Paris' most connected transport hubs offering exceptional connectivity Gecina will leverage its repositioning expertise to transform this asset into a fully amenitized business center, creating synergies with its adjacent '7 Madrid' property (already owned by Gecina) Attractive financial profile, with an accretive impact on recurring net income in the short term and the Group's loan-to-value ratio expected to remain broadly stable by end-2025 versus end-2024, while delivering long-term value creation Strategic office complex acquisition in Paris Central Business District Preliminary agreement signed to acquire a 32,200 sq.m 100% office complex for €435 million (incl. duties, c. €13,300 per sq.m), comprising two highly-quality buildings: ‒ 'Rocher' (38-46, rue du Rocher) a 25,000 sq.m building built in 2013 with strong fundamentals in place. Currently vacant, the asset offers a near-term opportunity to create value through its enhanced service offerings and repositioning ‒ 'Hôtel Particulier' (19-23, rue de Vienne) a 7,200 sq.m heritage building fully restructured in 2013. Fully let, it will provide additional income in the short term and complements the overall investment profile Prime, central location in the heart of Paris' Central Business District, just steps away from the vibrant Saint-Lazare transport hub (120 meters). This area benefits from robust leasing market dynamics — further strengthened by recent extensions to several metro and express train lines, providing direct access to Paris' four major train stations, Orly Airport and La Défense High-quality, modern complex, with strong fundamentals. Both buildings are equipped with recent, well-maintained technical systems and are asbestos-free. They feature strong environmental credentials, including certifications such as BREEAM In-Use (Excellent/Good), NF HQE Renovation (High Environmental Quality), LEED Gold, and BBC (low energy consumption building). The 'Rocher' building offers large, efficient floorplates (approx. 3,000 sq.m of continuous space), a modern facade that maximizes natural light, and both vertical and horizontal divisibility—enabling adaptable leasing strategies Creating value through a fully amenitized modular business center Strategic repositioning opportunity: The vacant 'Rocher' building offers significant potential through an estimated 12 to 15-month refurbishment program (€30–40 millions). The project will enhance amenities and services to meet tenant expectations. Gecina's proven track record in value creation—in terms of both rental income and capital appreciation—is illustrated in this area by the successful repositioning of '7 Madrid' in 2020 (12,900 sq.m, on the same plot) and '55 Amsterdam' in 2017 (11,300 sq.m) Operational flexibility and synergies: The asset offers the potential to create a fully serviced business center over time by pooling services and operating in coordination with the adjacent '7 Madrid' property (already owned by Gecina) Attractive financial profile, based on conservative rental assumptions in Paris' CBD Redeploying capital to strengthen the portfolio in core central locations This acquisition aligns with Gecina's strategy to redeploy proceeds from mature assets (€2bn disposals completed in 2023-2024 at an average yield of 2.9%) into higher-yielding opportunities (development pipeline, acquisition/repositioning project) Transaction further consolidating Gecina's footprint in Paris' Central Business District Positive financial impact: The acquisition will be accretive for recurring net income following completion of the refurbishment work and once fully let, with the Group's loan-to-value ratio expected to remain broadly stable by end-2025 compared with end-2024 Financial agenda - 07.23.2025: 2025 first-half earnings, after market close - 10.14.2025: Business at September 30, 2025, after market close About Gecina Gecina is a leading operator, that fully integrates all real estate expertise, owning, managing, and developing a unique prime portfolio valued at €17.4bn as at December 31, 2024. Strategically located in the most central areas of Paris and the Paris Region, Gecina's portfolio includes 1.2 million sq.m of office space and over 9,000 residential units. By combining long-term value creation with operational excellence, Gecina offers high-quality, sustainable living and working environments tailored to the evolving needs of urban users. As a committed operator, Gecina enhances its assets with high-value services and dynamic property and asset management, fostering vibrant communities. Through its YouFirst brand, Gecina places user experience at the heart of its strategy. In line with its social responsibility commitments, the Fondation Gecina supports initiatives across four core pillars: disability inclusion, environmental protection, cultural heritage, and housing access. Gecina is a French real estate investment trust (SIIC) listed on Euronext Paris, and is part of the SBF 120, CAC Next 20, CAC Large 60, and CAC 40 ESG indices. Gecina is also recognized as one of the top-performing companies in its industry by leading sustainability rankings (GRESB, Sustainalytics, MSCI, ISS-ESG, and CDP) and is committed to radically reducing its carbon emissions by 2030.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Immigrant in crisis: Supporters want to stop Lima translator's deportation to Haiti
Apr. 12—LIMA — Lima proved a welcome refuge for Marc Rocher as he fled chaos in his native Haiti. His respite may soon end if federal courts uphold an order from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security revoking humanitarian parole for the 532,000 Haitians, Cubans, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans like Rocher who came to the U.S. since October 2022. From Haiti to Lima Rocher's siblings urged him to leave Haiti after foreign mercenaries assassinated President Jovenel Moise on July 7, 2021. Rocher resisted, even as gangs started taking over the nation's capital. "It never made me scared," Rocher said — until gangs murdered one of his friends and kidnapped another friend for ransom. "We didn't hear from him for two days," Rocher recalls. Rocher joined his sister in Florida weeks later, eventually moving to Kentucky for work before settling in Lima. Rocher learned to speak and write in English as a child while attending American schools in Haiti, which enabled him to translate for his fellow migrants in Lima. Rocher accepted a job mentoring and translating for Haitian adoptees in Columbus Grove and migrant children in Lima schools, where he is the only interpreter who speaks Haitian Creole. He quickly became essential in the schools as he translated for nurses, counselors, principals, and teachers who would otherwise rely on mobile applications, known for occasional errors, to talk to the Lima district's 88 Haitian Creole-speaking students and their parents. "I don't know what they would do without him, because none of us speak Creole," said Jeanette Weaver, director of English language learner program for Lima schools. 'They consider us part of themselves' The Biden administration permitted as many as 30,000 migrants from Haiti, Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela to come to the U.S. at their own expense each month through the humanitarian parole program starting in October 2022. The program started in 1952 to grant temporary work permits for migrants fleeing war or political instability in their home countries, as they apply for asylum or a visa to stay in the U.S. when their parole ends. Biden relied on the parole authority more than his predecessors, as he sought legal pathways for migrants to stay in the U.S. and discourage illegal border crossings. An estimated 532,000 migrants traveled to the U.S. legally through the program, often traveling to cities like Springfield or Lima searching for work. Exact estimates are unavailable, but U.S. Census Bureau estimates show at least 424 people moved from abroad to Allen County between April 2020 and July 2024. The sudden influx of migrants caught the community's attention, with few Creole-speaking translators available to assist in the schools, courts and workplaces, but Rocher felt welcome in Lima. "They consider us part of themselves," he said. 'He wants to make everyone illegal' President Donald Trump fixated on immigration and repeated false rumors of migrants eating household pets in Springfield on the campaign trail, promising to end the Biden administration's "broad abuse" of the parole program, which he blamed for "the worst border crisis in U.S. history." He signed a series of executive orders on inauguration day to secure the southern border, target "sanctuary" cities and terminate parole for Haitians, Cubans, Venezuelans and Nicaraguans. Then on March 24, the Department of Homeland Security notified parolees of its intent to revoke legal protections for migrants like Rocher, who have until April 24 to leave the country unless a federal court intervenes. A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked the Trump administration's revocation of humanitarian parole, putting the revocation on hold. "He wants to make everyone illegal," Rocher said, "so that you will have no choice." Rocher remains the only Haitian Creole translator available for Columbus Grove and Lima schools, prompting friends, colleagues and parents of the children he tutors to call congressional representatives seeking an individual determination from DHS for him to stay. He recently met with a lawyer to discuss his options, as returning to Haiti would make Rocher a target for gangs. Even with his future in the U.S. in doubt, Rocher doesn't get too anxious. Instead, he turns to his Christian faith and his community for comfort. "I know all will work out for me at the end of the day," he said. Featured Local Savings
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Fish are thriving in the river Seine
On a damp and grimly grey winter day in Paris, Bill François is a beacon of positivity. After a brief stroll along the River Seine, he comes to a halt at the Henri IV Dock with Notre Dame Cathedral just about visible through the mist. Here, François flicks his wrist back and then gently launches a fishing line out into the choppy waters. "The Seine is a wild place in the heart of Paris," enthuses François, who has come prepared in an all-weather outfit that includes a cap, sunglasses, and waterproof pants. "It's like an aquarium. The water is quite clear these days and the fish are multiplying." François, pictured below, a marine biologist by training, fishes in the Seine several times a week in different locations, surveying what he catches for long-term population monitoring by Parisian fishing associations. And year by year, François and other fishers are finding more and more, Reasons to be Cheerful reports. In fact, in the 1970s, only three fish species were left in the 777-kilometer (482-mile) river, which spans northern France and cuts through the capital city. But after decades of urban water policies alongside community efforts, nearly 40 have been officially registered, with new species appearing constantly. Beyond fish, according to François, there are also other kinds of creatures such as jellyfish, crustaceans, sponges, shrimp and kingfishers coming back to the Seine. "The restoration efforts of this river have been a real success," adds François. The Seine's thriving biodiversity is largely due to an improvement in urban wastewater treatment and the quality of water that is now being discharged into the river, according to French officials. "We were pioneering almost by obligation," says Vincent Rocher, who co-authored a report published in November 2024 for SIAAP, the French public utility that has been tasked with collecting and treating wastewater in the Paris region since 1970. Thousands of years ago and even up to the Middle Ages, Paris was a city of marine life, the Seine—which is over 14,000 years old—was teeming with eels and salmon. But the municipal sanitation network became vastly inadequate as the city industrialized in the 19th century and as its population rose from about four million in 1900 to 12 million in 2020. "We dumped a lot of organic matter in the water over that period," explains Rocher. "The population growth far exceeded our clean up capacity. So the Seine was biologically dead, there wasn't oxygen for wildlife. The fish almost disappeared." Such was the dire state of Parisian waterways that one little-known fluvial cousin to the Seine, the Bièvre, was gradually concreted over and eventually buried by 1912. (Efforts are currently underway to restore the river.) Rocher, whose report covers the development of sanitation in the Paris region from 1875 to present day and projections to 2050, said the turnaround began in 1929 when Paris laid out its first strategic plan and built a water purification station. Since then, many more urban purification stations have been built, and they have become more sophisticated, treating not only waste like carbon and organic matter, but also nitrogen and phosphorus, helping to stop the proliferation of oxygen-hungry algae, which can starve other aquatic life. Since 1970, when SIAAP was founded, there has been a 10-fold reduction in ammoniacal nitrogen pollutants and a 20-fold reduction in fecal matter in the Seine. The early progress was so promising that former prime minister Jacques Chirac promised in 1990 that he would swim in the Seine within three years. That claim proved to be too ambitious. However, Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo finally fulfilled the dream in July 2024 ahead of the Olympic Games—and in summer 2025 three public swimming sites along the Seine will open to the public. "It's a spectacular result," says Rocher, who is director of innovation, strategy, and environment at SIAAP. "That's the fruit of our purification stations. The Seine is breathing again." Yet recognition must also be given to the associations of fishermen in Paris, who, mostly on a voluntary basis, have been monitoring fish populations for years, as well as adopting sustainable practices such as banning fishing in reproductive seasons. "There are more than 1,000 members that coordinate across WhatsApp groups, recording all of the species that we observe," says François. SIAAP has also been working more directly to support marine life, with a team of about 10 "ecological engineers" working on the ground to maintain fish habitats on riverbanks. The organization occasionally releases oxygen in key fish habitat areas of the Seine when levels drop too low—something usually required due to pollution overflows. It has also begun monitoring using environmental DNA, or eDNA, which involves taking samples from the environment rather than directly from fishes, minimizing disruption. While Paris has proven to be a leader in the field, many other European cities have taken huge strides when it comes to protecting urban rivers, particularly in light of the European Union's Water Framework Directive, rules established in 2000 to protect Europe's rivers, lakes and groundwater. Experts say that healthy urban rivers offer a number of benefits, including better flood management, protected habitats for wildlife, air quality improvements, and nature spaces to improve residents' well-being. "Many cities have experienced massive improvements," says Iwan Jones, a professor at Queen Mary University of London and head of the River Communities Group, a U.K.-based project studying how freshwater ecosystems can be managed sustainably. "This is down to changes in legislation on the national and European level." Professor Jones also attributes changes in public opinion to helping ease urban river restoration. "We used to turn our backs on rivers," he says. "But as people have seen the improvements, they have demanded more. Things like swimming in the Seine at the Paris Olympics brought a focus on the river being an asset rather than a liability." As a sign of that change of public perception in recent years, fishing in the Seine has even become popular among younger urban residents, including rappers and graffiti artists, in a scene known as "Street Fishing." Nonetheless, the flow of urban river restoration hasn't all been one way. Major research in the journal "Nature", co-authored by Jones in 2023, found that the recovery of European freshwater biodiversity has "come to a halt"—pointing to threats such as new pollutants, climate change and the spread of invasive species. The SIAAP report echoed those concerns, warning that climate change "will certainly accentuate the fragility of the rivers" in the Paris region and that other challenges to river health and biodiversity, such as micropollutants, are emerging. An ongoing difficulty is the challenge of stopping sewage from overflowing into rivers when there are extreme rains, which are becoming more common due to climate change, but Paris has been building extra capacity over the past 20 years to combat this. Meanwhile, in a paper published in November 2024, scientists at Utrecht University in the Netherlands argued that urban rivers, for generations overlooked, are the "missing piece" when it comes to restoring Europe's ecosystems. The authors argued national restoration plans "need to neither disparage nor forget urban rivers or riverscapes" and incorporate targeted and place-specific actions for their restoration. François, too, is concerned about limited surveillance of companies who pollute in the Seine, and plans to develop areas like La Bassée, a protected nature reserve that, according to him, is one of the few places where the Seine is still wild. "There is a big margin for improvement," he says. Waterline is an ongoing series that explores the solutions making rivers, waterways and ocean food chains healthier. It is funded by a grant from the Walton Family Foundation. This story was produced by Reasons to be Cheerful and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
